#iBuy: CIPS campaign encourages young buyers

A social media-led recruitment push targeting school leavers and graduates aims to attract the next generation of procurement professionals

As the choirs sing out and mulled wine spices the air, the Christmas lights are switched on at Leadenhall Market and the festivities begin…

Back at the City of London procurement department, Georgia Lawrence’s work is done – she bought the lights months earlier.

Georgia (top right, below) is just one of the stars of the CIPS #iBuy campaign that kicks off this month, sharing the message with school leavers and graduates that there are great jobs, and varied career options in procurement.

More than half of employers have had trouble filling skilled procurement positions, according to a Hays survey, and with firms looking increasingly to procurement skills to help ride the Brexit wave, more people need to be encouraged into the profession. As Oliver Cock, chair of judges at this year’s UK CIPS Supply Management awards ceremony, says: “If we don’t push our profession forward, if we don’t take responsibility for shouting about how good we are, then no one else will.”

The #iBuy campaign also features Michael, who buys tyres for Jaguar Land Rover, Emma, who buys the 38 million eggs a year that are needed for breakfasts at Premier Inns, and Bethan, who buys engines for the lifeboats on Carnival Cruise ships – and more young buyers who love their jobs and love what they buy. The posts will link through to a new iBuy website from CIPS, which tells the buyers’ stories and gives advice on how to get into procurement.

Look out for the #iBuy tag on Twitter and other social media platforms from mid-October and encourage any young buyers in your team to join in and post their own selfies.